When do you find time to workout?
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Anonymous
| Can you break it up in small chunks? Do 10 mins of jump roping in the morning. Walk the stairs at work for 10 mins at lunch. Do a couple sets of push ups throughout the day. Also, get a treadmill or bike for your house and some free weights. You don’t have to change clothes or shower when you exercise, either. |
Anonymous
This is the dilemma I have, too. I do Orange Theory workouts at 8:00 when my dd is already down for the night. Pros: It's a GREAT workout that I genuinely enjoy, there's a substantial cancellation fee to cancel within 12 hours so I sign up for all of my classes for the week and can't back out (so I HAVE to go), and I get to spend all of my after work --> dd's bedtime with her. Cons: Exhaustion is obviously a huge one. That Thursday night workout is a toughie for sure. Falling asleep afterwards is ALSO an issue (as is when to eat dinner??? I usually just don't). I spent the first year of my daughter's life NOT working out, and, honestly--even with the exhaustion of late nights + early mornings (I'm a high school teacher), I ultimately feel better with adding the workout in. I've also made a deal with my DH to swap weekend mornings with dd so I know that, guaranteed (at least for the most part), I have a sleep in day. And I use the HECK out of that sleep in day! Good luck figuring out what works for you, OP. It's hard to find a perfect balance, so I hope you don't beat yourself up about it! |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks so much for all of the replies and encouragement. It made me feel a lot better about my situation and it has motivated me to figure out a plan. Thanks again! |
Anonymous
Strong agreement on getting kids used to it. I'm working on getting my 3 yo used to one of two strategies: 1. she sits on the basement couch and watches a show while i go on the treadmill; this can be dangerous if she decides to approach, so we have strict rules that she has to STAY on the couch unless she has to pee, and i set up a barrier (i move the coffee table) so there is a visual reminder that she can't approach. 2. she sits on the couch in the basement with a tablet while i do a workout video right in front of her. this one is sort of annoying bc she doesn't like to wear headphones so the tablet noise + workout video noise drives me a little nutty, but i can handle it if it's my only option! |
Anonymous
| I have 3 kids, so the only time to workout on weekdays is early. I usually get up around 515 am to head to an early class at a studio 3-4x during the week. |
Anonymous
| 5:50-6:50am bootcamp, M-Fr. Everyone asleep when I leave, DH up with kids and leaves shortly after I get home. Only time possible for me, because am a tired mess at the end of the day, and after the kids are in bed, the dishes are done, the house minimally put back together, all I want to do is collapse on the couch and watch TV or go to bed myself! |
Anonymous
How old are your kids and who is watching them when you go to the gym? |
Anonymous
They’re at school it’s my workday. In summer when middle and Es buses aren’t an issue I go at 5:45 and I’m home before anyone wakes up. |
Anonymous
Similar to me but I wake at 430 and out the house at 440 and back home by 5:55, while everybody is still asleep. I only do this twice during the work week and I do it at 530 during the weekends. I'm really trying to do it every day during the work week so I can sleep in during the weekend, but 430 is so hard, especially if I had a rough night the night before with work and/or dealing with kids. |
Anonymous
Seriously the worst advice ever. Start a routine immediately - just manage personal expectations! You may have a day or 5 go by where you don't work out, but a little each day builds up. |
Anonymous
| Another idea - can you carve out any time during the work day? My office building has a gym and I block out time on my calendar a few times a week. I pull my hair in a high pony and wear a headband and I find I don't have to wash my hair after and some dry shampoo and a quick blast with a hair dryer and I am presentable the rest of the day. Yeah, it is a little gross, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I wasn't finding any other good time to work out! Could you even do a walk around the block a few times? Granted, it isn't the same as a full on, sweaty workout, but it at least gets me moving and is better than nothing. |
Anonymous
| I walk around my building at lunch. Outside if it's nice, inside if cold. I get two miles in then. When I telework I use the treadmill or text a neighbor and go for a walk around the neighborhood. I've started using the treadmill when my kids go to bed and watching bravo on it. |
Anonymous
| We go in the mornings, drop off DD at the childcare for about an hour, sometimes 1.5 hrs. I started taking her since she was 12 weeks old. |
Anonymous
At that point, getting another 1-2 hours of sleep is better for your health than exercise. |
Anonymous
Ummm we are wondering about your weekends. You mean, you leave all 3 of your kids at home sleeping while you go to your class? |